While We Fix Canada, Let's Fix Our Media, Too

Now that the dust has settled from the federal election, for many, there is a feeling of cautious optimism in the air. Our new government seems to be rattling through a to-do list at warp speed, showing a transparency and receptivity Canadians haven't seen in a decade.

While we're in the fixing-up mood, how about we include fixing our media?

When The Tyee started in 2003, it was in reaction to a crisis in Canadian media. We saw massive newsroom layoffs, consolidation of ownership, and journalists spread thinner than ever before.

Twelve years later, that crisis has not gone away, and is arguably getting worse. Newsrooms continue to shrink, consolidation persists. Not to mention that in the last federal election, a near-total majority of Canada's major newspapers continued their pattern of directly endorsing the Conservative party.

While we can't claim to hold the magic wand that will solve all of our country's media woes, we can do our part to make it better. That's why we are asking Tyee readers to support independent media and become Tyee Builders today.

New leader, new challenges

The federal election is over, and with it the nation's myopic fixation on Stephen Harper. But that doesn't mean we have any fewer issues to tackle, and solutions to talk about. Climate change. Refugee resettlement. Electoral reform. The list goes on and the work has only just begun.

We need journalists asking powerful people tough questions and informing the democratic conversation. But here's the thing: good journalism costs money, and it has to come from somewhere.

Instead of putting up paywalls that stymie the flow of information, we've turned to our readers -- and you have come through, time and time again.

In 2013, we asked Tyee readers to pitch in so we could hire a reporter in Ottawa. You did, and now Jeremy Nuttall is hustling on Parliament Hill full time, entirely backed by Tyee Builder contributions. Check out the long list of stories he's filed here.

Just this past spring, we asked our readers to help fund our federal election reporting, and you did that, too. With that, we turned our mighty team of reporters and columnists loose, landing big stories that changed the campaign conversation.

Our 70-item list of Harper's power abuses, for example, was read by hundreds of thousands of Canadians during the election period, and is the single most-read item ever produced by The Tyee.

Our team spotlighted unexpected cracks in the Conservative base, and lent a platform to veterans hurt by federal cuts. Tyee reporters and commentators dug deep on strategic voting efforts playing out across the country.

And when debate suddenly turned to veils at citizenship ceremonies and barbaric cultural practice tip lines, national columnist Heather Libby helped us understand the strategy behind fear-based campaigning.

Our coverage informed and changed the public conversation about the election, and more people than ever before were reading and sharing Tyee stories. All thanks to you.

Ready to join? Become a Tyee Builder.

Help write our next chapter

There's clearly an appetite for independent, tough-minded journalism in this country -- stories that tackle the big issues and skip the fluff. There are so many stories left untold, and so many voices that we don't get to hear from.

Tension is high leading up to the Paris climate negotiations starting next week, and The Tyee's climate change and energy reporter Geoff Dembicki is heading there to cover it. Katie Hyslop continues to investigate what is being done to support the least advantaged people in our communities. And Andrew MacLeod, The Tyee's legislative bureau chief, persists in holding Victoria elites' feet to the fire day-in and day-out. All of these reporters get to tackle these pressing problems because of the support of Tyee Builders.

The more we raise, the more we can do -- it's as simple as that. As our base of monthly supporters grows, we can plan further in advance, equip our reporters with better resources, and work every day with a mandate from our readers to publish original, fact-driven stories on issues you care about.

How much impact can you have as a Tyee Builder? Well, take a look at our 12-year record. Way back in 2005, The Tyee published the The 100-Mile Diet before the local food movement took off. We were one of the first news outlets that started asking questions about how Canada was managing its oil wealth compared to Norway (hint: not very well). For five years now, we've proudly published Andrew Nikiforuk's deep investigations into Canada's oil and gas industry. To this day, parliamentarians in provincial and federal legislatures frequently cite our award-winning reporting.

We exist not to come up with the most clickbait-y story of the day. The Tyee is here to report on stories that mainstream media often miss, continually look at ways our country is struggling, and get the conversation started about solutions.

But wait, there's more...

In our 2013 crowdfunding drive, we released a set of political paper dolls -- complete with outfits and accessories -- as a thank-you to our monthly sustainers. We decided Trudeau and Harper needed a style update, and have given them brand new wardrobes for 2015!

"The Great One Harper" and "Gender Parity Trudeau" are a brand new treat from us to Tyee Builders who subscribe at $15 per month or higher. These leaders toyed with us over the longest campaign since 1872; now it's your turn to toy with them.

This is a new era, and possibilities abound. With your support, we can grow and sustain our team of fierce, independent journalists, and continue to keep those in power in check.

Join us now to help build independent media in Canada.